The Supreme Court's return from its midwinter break next week will mark a legal milestone: It will have been five years since Justice Clarence Thomas last spoke during a court argument, a record unequalled by any other justice in recent decades. His "epic silence on the bench is just one part of his enigmatic and contradictory persona

40
Number of years since any other justice has gone an entire term, let alone five, without speaking, according to Timothy R. Johnson, a University of Minnesota political science professor

133
Average number of questions per hourlong argument that Supreme Court justices collectively asked from 1988 to 2008. That's more than two questions per minute. "Thomas isn't wrong to suggest that the last thing the bench needs is another chatterbox," says Dahlia Lithwick at Slate.

100
Average number of questions per hourlong argument asked by Supreme Court justices from 1972 to 1987. "The post-Scalia court, from 1986 onward, has become a much more talkative bench," says Professor Johnson.

I'm guessing it's because he's black. I'm sure William Joyce can back me up on this.

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no. it's because he was never equipped to be on the supreme court.

nice try, though.

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I hope you know I'm just kidding. I really don't know enough about him to say. But I do know that when I've said that Barack Obama is not equipped to be President I've been called a racist by many people.

I'm guessing it's because he's black. I'm sure William Joyce can back me up on this.

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no. it's because he was never equipped to be on the supreme court.

nice try, though.

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I hope you know I'm just kidding. I really don't know enough about him to say. But I do know that when I've said that Barack Obama is not equipped to be President I've been called a racist by many people.

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well, about the president... your opinion isn't shared by 50% of the country. but no worries.
i do know you're kidding though about thomas.

The Supreme Court's return from its midwinter break next week will mark a legal milestone: It will have been five years since Justice Clarence Thomas last spoke during a court argument, a record unequalled by any other justice in recent decades. His "epic silence on the bench is just one part of his enigmatic and contradictory persona

40
Number of years since any other justice has gone an entire term, let alone five, without speaking, according to Timothy R. Johnson, a University of Minnesota political science professor

133
Average number of questions per hourlong argument that Supreme Court justices collectively asked from 1988 to 2008. That's more than two questions per minute. "Thomas isn't wrong to suggest that the last thing the bench needs is another chatterbox," says Dahlia Lithwick at Slate.

100
Average number of questions per hourlong argument asked by Supreme Court justices from 1972 to 1987. "The post-Scalia court, from 1986 onward, has become a much more talkative bench," says Professor Johnson.

The Supreme Court's return from its midwinter break next week will mark a legal milestone: It will have been five years since Justice Clarence Thomas last spoke during a court argument, a record unequalled by any other justice in recent decades. His "epic silence on the bench is just one part of his enigmatic and contradictory persona

40
Number of years since any other justice has gone an entire term, let alone five, without speaking, according to Timothy R. Johnson, a University of Minnesota political science professor

133
Average number of questions per hourlong argument that Supreme Court justices collectively asked from 1988 to 2008. That's more than two questions per minute. "Thomas isn't wrong to suggest that the last thing the bench needs is another chatterbox," says Dahlia Lithwick at Slate.

100
Average number of questions per hourlong argument asked by Supreme Court justices from 1972 to 1987. "The post-Scalia court, from 1986 onward, has become a much more talkative bench," says Professor Johnson.

The Supreme Court's return from its midwinter break next week will mark a legal milestone: It will have been five years since Justice Clarence Thomas last spoke during a court argument, a record unequalled by any other justice in recent decades. His "epic silence on the bench is just one part of his enigmatic and contradictory persona

40
Number of years since any other justice has gone an entire term, let alone five, without speaking, according to Timothy R. Johnson, a University of Minnesota political science professor

133
Average number of questions per hourlong argument that Supreme Court justices collectively asked from 1988 to 2008. That's more than two questions per minute. "Thomas isn't wrong to suggest that the last thing the bench needs is another chatterbox," says Dahlia Lithwick at Slate.

100
Average number of questions per hourlong argument asked by Supreme Court justices from 1972 to 1987. "The post-Scalia court, from 1986 onward, has become a much more talkative bench," says Professor Johnson.

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I would say BS also...

It is amazing that anyone could sit for five years and not even raise a rudimentary question. Almost like an Urban Legend that is too ridiculous to believe

If anyone can find a link contradicting the OP, I would like to see it

America will, in time, learn to remove affirmative action which should be ordered by ability, not color. The time is coming, but AA was important. But not so much anymore.

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Getting rid of affirmative action huh? You do know this is something Thomas is for! He believes that affirmative actions and granting contracts based on race runs contrary to the equal protection clause!

And just like Obama becoming President had nothing to do with AA, Thomas's election to the Supeme Court had nothing to do with AA!

I read a few of Thomas's opinions and dissents and I like them. Well put together. Jillian is right he sways from Stare Decisis a bunch, but if justices never did that we would still have the Separate But Equal Doctrine! Contrary to public perception he is far from stupid. The reason he sways from stare decisis is because he is a true constitutionalist (unlike Scalia who uses that ideology when it fits his needs) and he rules based mostly on that ideology vs Stare Decisis. Case law many times needs to be overturned!

Lastly the left has been after Thomas for years, so I doubt the truthfulness from an obvious leftist article by a leftist with an agenda!

True Thomas doesn't speak up enough or write enough opinions, but attacking a Black man who grew up in poverty, but still doesn't believe in state supported discriminatory programs like affirmative actions, speaks volumes for his ethics!

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